Finish Line 1-Step Cleaner and Lubricant

Versatile and surprisingly tenacious cleaner/lube for riders short on time

Weight:

142g

Contact:

www.madison.co.uk

Finish Line 1-Step Cleaner and Lubricant

710Shaun Audane

Finish Line 1-step lubricant and cleaner

Despite my initial cynicism, Finish Line’s 1 step cleaner and lubricant quickly won me over with its convenience, low friction and surprising tenacity. Marketed at commuters, the mixture is also perfect for post race clean-ups of cross and mountain bike transmissions, slotted cables and even spd cleat mechanisms. However, it demands an abundance of clean rag, weekly reapplication in wetter weather and those with sensitive skins should apply wearing latex examination gloves.

The solution works to the same principle as the old-fashioned petrol/diesel mix with a thin solvent invading every link, purging congealed lube, mud, grease and grime. This evaporates leaving behind an extremely sophisticated low-friction lubricant. Finish line stresses the lack of carcinogenic and other harmful ingredients but said mixture has quite a kick, so use in a well ventilated area and store away from children, pets and sources of ignition.

To use shake the contents vigorously for a minute, plug in the applicator straw and spray in short bursts over the chain/cassette. Leave the solution a further minute or so to work its magic and hunt down some clean, lint free rag.

Run the chain through the rag a few complete turns before wiping overspill from the rear wheel. Apply another coat, forgoing the wiping ritual for optimum protection or preparing a bike for winter storage. Slipping a section of card beneath control cables and giving them a quick shot reaps surprising reward, enhancing a slick inner environment that doesn't gum up over time.

The first few pedal strokes left the Univega’s drivetrain feeling brand new and super efficient. While none of the components are remotely worn, coming from a diet of ceramic type wet-lubes it felt notably friskier across the block.

Mild to moist conditions have made little impression upon the blend, although a couple of prolonged rides in bad weather demanded a quick top up. As a yardstick, we’re on our third application in three weeks and 240 miles but I can see this becoming a weekly job come winter.

Verdict

Versatile and surprisingly tenacious cleaner/lube for riders short on time

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

Here's how we roll at road.cc:

Every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a real insight into whether it works or not. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective, and we strive to ensure that all opinions expressed are backed up by facts, but reviews are always a reviewer's informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores. It reflects both a product's function and value. Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad. Here's what they mean: